MexicoAG.org

The Mexico Missionary Fellowship is made up of three teams, Builders, Equippers, and Compassion. In this “In Focus” article we’re reporting news from the Compassion team.

The words of Steve Shoop, leader of Engage Ministries, are full of excitement as he describes what is happening in his team’s feeding program in Guadalajara, Mexico:

“Every week, we see anywhere from 50 children and mothers to as many as 150 individuals. It has been incredible to see how God has enabled us to not just open the door slightly, but He has flung the doors of opportunity wide open.”

Basically, the students go to a very poor area of the city and give a meal to the children and the moms that gather around for the event, but as Shoop adds, “we believe we are feeding not only their stomachs, but also their souls.”

The feeding program provides the essentials in order to satisfy physical hunger, but the aim of this ministry is to give them something that will last much longer than a sandwich and bag of chips. Every week children and their moms are presented with the Word of God. It is in this part of the program that the Engage in Missions team believes that they are presenting spiritual food that will be of eternal value. In addition to the meal and the message, children are taught the scriptures while playing uplifting games, utilizing puppets, dramas, and skits.

The vision for this ministry began because Engage in Missions wanted to have a way to share the love and message of Jesus to unreached souls in the Guadalajara. Beginning in January of 2007, students began to go out the colonia of El Coli with one mission in mind: to demonstrate the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through serving the community in this manner, they have seen anywhere from 50 children and mothers to as many as 150 individuals, and they have seen many lost souls come to know the Lord as their personal Savior.

Currently Shoop and his team are working with Julio Ceasar Andrade, the pastor of “La Smyrna” in order to plant a church in this same location. He adds, “We believe that our faithfulness in the small opportunity that God gave in January has led to His outpouring of blessings in this new opportunity for a church plant. It is our prayer that this church plant will serve to reach even more lost souls, and we look forward to the next location that God would have us feed lost souls that we might continue the mission to which He has called us.

Steve and Amy Shoop are Missionaries in Guadalajara, Mexico. Having served as a youth pastor for 22 years, Steve had a burden to see young men and women grow in their relationship with Christ. As appointed missionaries, Steve and Amy have developed the Engage in Missions program which connects university students with practical experience in a missions setting. Amy adds her medical training as a nurse to the team as they use their unique gifts and talents to see youth reached in Mexico and throughout Latin America.

The Shoop Family

Steve, Amy, and Seth–GUADALAJARA, JALISCO

Their current involvement:

The Shoops are directors of ENGAGE, a new ministry that allows students to work on their college degree, while testing the Call of God on their lives to be missionaries. They are empowering a generation to carry the Good News of Jesus Christ, one person at a time.

They ask for prayer for:

• Wisdom to complete the vision God has given.
• Completion of the Adoption process for Seth.
• A productive summer with our AIM teams.
• Building or land for dormitories.

The Smith Family

Ken and Terry–CENTRAL MEXICO

Their current involvement:

The Smith’s been asked to assist others working in “The Heart of Darkness”, the 10/40 window of Latin America, where less than 2% of it’s population are born-again. It is the least evangelized area of all Latin America. They say, “The challenges are great, but it only makes the opportunities more exciting and rewarding.”

They ask for prayer for:

• God’s help as they transition into this ministry.

The Rider Family

Nicky and Janie

Their current involvement:

Just a few weeks shy of finishing language school, the Riders will be moving to Chihuahua, Mexico in September. Recently they’ve been asked by national leadership to extend their construction ministry to the south, namely the Chiapas area. This means they will be spending part of their year living in the north and the other part in the south.

They ask for prayer for:

• The ability to find housing in both locations
• The provision for two tool trailers, additional scaffolding and mixers
• Note – The Riders also thank all who have prayed for their nephew Dary’s recovery from injuries received while on duty in Iraq. After three months in the hospital, he is ready for a 30 day leave. He also married his sweetheart in the chapel of Walter Reed Hospital in May!

The Roberts Family

Jason, Roberta, and Micah (11 months)–CHIAPAS, MEXICO

Their current involvement:

God has given them a vision to “transform the youth to change the world.” To accomplish this, they train local youth and children’s workers. Currently, about 24 youth meet in their home twice a week to be discipled and trained in ministry. They also teach a two-day Children’s Ministry seminar in the local church setting, which culminates with a children’s outreach. They are seeing tremendous results! They also help train ministers in the local Bible Institute.

They ask for prayer for:

• God’s guidance as they expand in both areas of ministry. The pastors are hungry for training in both, but time and energy are very limited.
• God’s outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our churches.
• Additional support from churches and individuals in the US

FIRE IN MEXICO

This massive event proclaiming Jesus as King over Mexico will take place this November in Mexico City. It all begins on the 12th in the Zocalo with a massive youth outreach/concert. Then on the 13th there will be a Pastors & Leaders Conference in the morning with the main event later that day for 80,000 people in the Aztec Stadium with guest Darlene Zschech from Hillsong Church, as well as other groups from Latin America.

Joel 3:9
Call out your best warriors.
Let all your fighting men advance for the attack.

CALLING ALL INTERCESSORS

We must pray! Please set aside time this Friday, July 6 to fast and pray over this event. Specific prayer is asked for those organizing this event.

Missionary Ryan Thomas writes,

“Without exaggerating, the six main organizers of this event have gone through more sicknesses, trials and tragedies in a matter of weeks than in years prior. It is very obvious that the enemy does not want this event to happen. For that reason, we covet your prayers more than ever.”